Jamar “Rhino” Darby, 27, pleaded guilty in federal court in Newark to two counts of a 19-count indictment charging him with conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robberies in Essex, Union, Hudson and Bergen counties, and brandishing a handgun during one of the holdups.

Darby admitted that he and his conspirators robbed each of the establishments at gunpoint, stealing cash, cigarettes and other items between Dec. 29, 2012, and May 20, 2013. In all but one of the robberies, they used zip ties or duct tape to restrain their victims.

Darby also admitted that during the robbery of Pat’s Deli in Newark on Feb. 19, 2013, he and an accomplice tied up several victims with duct tape after threatening one victim with a .45-caliber semiautomatic handgun.

On March 16, 2013, Darby and Bobby Dawson, wearing ski masks and gloves, held up the Smashburger restaurant on Route 17 in Paramus, stealing about $5,000 in cash, according to police. The restaurant was closed at the time and no employees were injured during the robbery.

Dawson, 30, of Newark pleaded guilty in November to committing an armed carjacking, conspiring to commit 17 armed robberies and discharging a firearm during the commission of one of those robberies.

A third defendant, Antwon Yarbrough, 27, also of Newark, pleaded guilty to a conspiracy count in December and admitted his role in two of the armed robberies. He and Dawson are awaiting sentencing.

Darby faces up to 20 years in prison on the Hobbs Act conspiracy count and up to life imprisonment on the charge of brandishing a firearm during a violent crime.